Bills GM: We’re planning to be a playoff team

May 14, 2013; Orchard Park, NY, USA; A general view of a Buffalo Bills helmet used during organized team activities at Bills Healthy Zone Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
May 14, 2013; Orchard Park, NY, USA; A general view of a Buffalo Bills helmet used during organized team activities at Bills Healthy Zone Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Buffalo Bills have a long playoff drought, one that goes back to the last century. To top that off, they’re coming off three straight 6-10 seasons.

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Bills general manager Doug Whaley expects 2014 to be the season to break the trend.

“We haven’t been in the playoffs in a long time and we owe it to the fans, our late Hall of Fame owner and everybody in this business to show that we’re not the Bills anymore,” Whaley said, via the team’s website. “We want to be a playoff team. We’re planning to be a playoff team and that’s our goal.”

The Bills went into the offseason looking to surround second-year quarterback EJ Manuel with weapons. They did that adding wide receiver Sammy Watkins in the draft to go along side former first-round pick Manuel.

“That’s why we’ve built this roster and the moves we made in the off season were with the eye of making the playoffs,” Whaley said. “We feel that we have a roster that we are building with some cornerstone pieces that we believe can consistently compete for playoffs and championships.”

That message is being carried into camp.

“I think if you look at all 32 teams when they go to camp, everybody is looking to win,” Whaley said. “We’re competitors. Those guys in there are competitors, the coaches are competitors, us front office people are competitors. So anytime those guys strap it up, we’re expecting to win so I don’t understand why everybody keeps saying it’s a win-now situation. It’s always a win-now. That’s what sports are for.”